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311:). Willie Best received screen credit most of the time, which was unusual for "bit players"; most in the 1930s and 1940s were not accorded due credit. This also happened to white actors in small roles, but black actors were not credited even when their roles were larger. In more than 80 of his movies, he was given a proper character name (as opposed to simple descriptions such as "room service waiter" or "shoe-shine boy"), beginning with his second film.
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retaining his natural comic reactions and dialect. In reality he was far from the slow-witted clown he often portrayed; he was well aware of being typecast as "lazy darkey" characters: "I often think about these roles I have to play. Most of them are pretty broad. Sometimes I tell the director and he cuts out the bad parts... But what's an actor going to do? Either you do it or get out."
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385:, who regarded Best as one of the greatest talents he had ever met. Roach didn't care about Best's personal life as long as Best remained professional in acting roles. Best worked almost exclusively for Roach in 1950s television. He played Willie, the house servant/handyman and close friend of the title character of the
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Best was fond of using recreational narcotics, which resulted in at least two well-publicized arrests. In 1942 he was arrested for possession of marijuana, and in 1951 he was arrested for possession of heroin. The 1951 arraignment resulted in a $ 250 fine and three years' probation. The adverse
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In his early films Best clearly imitated Stepin
Fetchit, delivering dialogue slowly in a thick and almost incoherent dialect, and reacting to things with a pop-eyed stare and slack-jawed amazement or bewilderment. Best later refined his screen character, abandoning the Fetchit mannerisms but
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Willie Best appeared in more than one hundred films of the 1930s and 1940s. Although several sources state that for years he was billed only as "Sleep n' Eat", Best received credit under this moniker instead of his real name in only six movies: his first film as a bit player (Harold Lloyd's
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in 1943. Actor Paul White, who played a young version of Best's "Hipp" in the first film, went on to play "Hipp" in the next three films; Best returned to the role in the last two.
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2857:"Movie Review – The Ghost Breakers – THE SCREEN; 'Ghost Breakers,' a Comic Thriller, at Paramount – Spy Pictures at the Rialto and Palace – NYTimes.com"
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films. When
Moreland took temporary leave of the series to tour in vaudeville, Willie Best took over Moreland's role (as "Chattanooga Brown") in
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for a vacationing couple. He decided to stay in the region and began his performing career with a traveling show in southern
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similarly acclaimed him as "the best actor I know", while the two were working together in 1940 on
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243:(1935). He thereafter usually received credit as "Willie Best" or "William Best".
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Best's "Sleep n' Eat" moniker surfaced again in the 2000 motion picture satire
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The
Mississippi Almanac : The Ultimate Reference on the State, 2001-2002
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publicity hurt Best's career; he would make no further films after the 1951
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Black
Comedians on Black Comedy: How black Americans Taught Us to Laugh
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Willie Best was rescued from professional oblivion by veteran producer
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139:(May 27, 1913 – February 27, 1962), known professionally as
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to become well known. In the 21st century, his work, like that of
2762:"Willie Best - About This Person - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com"
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2794:"Movie Review - The Smiling Ghost - Poor Ghost - NYTimes.com"
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1934 interview with Willie Best, quoted in Thomas Cripps,
2709:. Jefferson, NC ; McFarland & Company. Page 201.
2677:. March 6, 2002. Retrieved February 4, 2021 via Proquest.
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2846:, p. 28, Angus and Robertson Publishers, Australia, 1986
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Slow Fade to Black: The Negro in
American Film 1900-1942
2661:. Yazoo City, MS : Computer Search & Research.
2833:. April 27, 1946. Page 23. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
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This article is about the actor. For other uses, see
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Encyclopedia of
Television Shows, 1925 Through 2010
314:He also played the character of "Hipp" in three of
2706:Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory
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2827:"This Acting Business Is Not Hard to Comedian"
2988:Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery
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2817:, Oxford University Press, 1977, p. 106.
1706:George Washington Jones, Dave's Servant
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2733:. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 46.
431:Best died on February 27, 1962, at the
93:Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California
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318:'s six Scattergood Baines films with
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3003:People from Sunflower, Mississippi
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925:Smokie – at marriage bureau
2993:Deaths from cancer in California
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1993:Scattergood Survives a Murder
1478:Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
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328:Scattergood Survives a Murder
2998:Male actors from Mississippi
2130:The Adventures of Mark Twain
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2844:Son of Golden Turkey Awards
2703:Ellenburger, Allan (2001).
2692:MississippiEncyclopedia.org
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1639:Art, the Elevator Operator
1273:Jasper - Elevator Operator
1154:Mose – Shoe Shine Boy
433:Motion Picture Country Home
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2842:Harry and Michael Medved,
2727:Littleton, Darryl (2006).
2428:Willie Best, in jail cell
820:James Henry, a Cary slave
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682:Credited as Sleep 'n' Eat
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521:Credited as Sleep 'n' Eat
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154:Best was one of the first
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16:American actor (1913–1962)
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1946:Sam, Room Service Waiter
1495:Mr. Moto Takes a Vacation
1460:Mr. Moto in Danger Island
1286:Gold Is Where You Find It
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963:Credited as William Best
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2764:. Movies & TV Dept.
2183:The Mark of the Whistler
1863:Credited as Willie Best
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1047:Cars For Rent attendant
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2513:Janitor / Cleaning Man
2219:The Monster and the Ape
2135:George, Twain's Butler
1718:Who Killed Aunt Maggie?
1389:Straight Place and Show
1060:We Who Are About to Die
903:Murder on a Bridle Path
394:The Trouble with Father
2831:The Pittsburgh Courier
2770:. 2012. Archived from
2686:Radishofski, Kathryn.
2657:Cox, James L. (2001).
2112:Thank Your Lucky Stars
1804:The Lady from Cheyenne
1617:Miracle on Main Street
1565:Blondie Brings Up Baby
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625:Man at Police Station
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74:Sunflower, Mississippi
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2359:Suddenly, It's Spring
2188:Men's Room Attendant
2032:Men's Room Attendant
2015:Eustis the Chauffeur
1959:A-Haunting We Will Go
1873:Nothing But the Truth
692:Murder on a Honeymoon
584:The Guilty Generation
555:What Wives Don't Want
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240:Murder on a Honeymoon
202:Best in a photo from
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2675:The Mississippi Link
2612:United States portal
2529:Manservant / Corpus
2304:The Bride Wore Boots
2269:She Wouldn't Say Yes
2045:Cinderella Swings It
1821:Kisses for Breakfast
1536:Bunny - the Janitor
1268:Everybody's Doing It
1197:The Lady Fights Back
589:Club Merlin Doorman
545:The Virtuous Husband
332:Cinderella Swings It
254:Suddenly It's Spring
2889:Atlanta Daily World
2774:on November 4, 2012
2347:Alternative title:
2326:Piano Delivery Man
1941:Maisie Gets Her Man
1912:Euclid White Brown
1890:The Body Disappears
1769:The Body Disappears
1752:Flight from Destiny
1701:Money and the Woman
1666:Blondie on a Budget
1583:The Covered Trailer
1372:Youth Takes a Fling
1007:Make Way for a Lady
920:The Bride Walks Out
697:Willie, the Porter
553:Alternative title:
518:Charcoal - Janitor
307:(in the 1939 movie
277:(left) and Best in
204:Film Star Who's Who
2900:Terrace, Vincent.
2767:The New York Times
2475:The Stu Erwin Show
2390:Half Past Midnight
2344:Chattanooga Brown
2321:The Face of Marble
2292:Chattanooga Brown
2201:Music for Millions
2166:The Girl Who Dared
1787:Scattergood Baines
1684:The Ghost Breakers
1634:Slightly Honorable
1250:Crashing Hollywood
1131:You Can't Buy Luck
990:Thank You, Jeeves!
942:Henry - the Angel
937:The Green Pastures
815:The Littlest Rebel
802:Elevator Operator
638:Little Miss Marker
620:Disorderly Conduct
324:Scattergood Baines
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264:The Ghost Breakers
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2922:Terrace, p. 1154.
2913:Terrace, p. 1109.
2877:The Afro-American
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2492:South of Caliente
1907:Whispering Ghosts
1855:The Smiling Ghost
1650:I Take This Woman
1600:Private Detective
1354:I'm From the City
1214:Saturday's Heroes
1182:Mississippi Moods
850:The Lady Consents
749:Sam, the Janitor
674:West of the Pecos
602:The Monster Walks
566:Up Pops the Devil
495:Ladies of Leisure
399:elevator operator
370:South of Caliente
237:(both 1934), and
235:West of the Pecos
226:The Monster Walks
220:Up Pops the Devil
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955:Down the Stretch
797:To Beat the Band
656:Kentucky Kernels
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89:(aged 48)
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1548:At the Circus
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1465:Launch Pilot
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886:Two in Revolt
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727:The Arizonian
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145:Sleep 'n' Eat
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114:Sleep 'n' Eat
113:
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101:Resting place
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36:
29:
26:
22:
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2872:
2860:. Retrieved
2851:
2843:
2838:
2830:
2822:
2814:
2809:
2797:. Retrieved
2788:
2776:. Retrieved
2772:the original
2765:
2756:
2744:. Retrieved
2729:
2722:
2705:
2699:
2691:
2682:
2674:
2658:
2653:
2555:
2547:21 episodes
2537:
2524:
2508:Racket Squad
2506:
2491:
2483:30 episodes
2473:
2457:
2439:
2421:
2405:
2388:
2373:
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2348:
2337:
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2199:
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2110:
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2060:
2043:
2025:
2008:
1991:
1974:
1957:
1939:
1922:
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1838:Highway West
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1212:
1195:
1181:
1166:Super-Sleuth
1164:
1147:
1129:
1111:
1093:
1076:
1058:
1040:
1023:
1005:
988:
973:Mummy's Boys
971:
953:
935:
918:
901:
884:
866:
848:
830:
813:
795:
784:Second Cook
779:Annie Oakley
777:
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690:
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654:
636:
618:
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582:
564:
554:
543:
529:
511:
493:
452:
450:
430:
420:Racket Squad
418:
412:
406:
392:
380:
368:
361:
351:
350:in 1945 and
345:
342:Charlie Chan
336:
331:
330:(1942), and
327:
323:
313:
308:
305:launch pilot
286:
278:
262:
252:
245:
238:
234:
230:
224:
218:
212:
209:
203:
174:A native of
173:
153:
144:
140:
137:William Best
136:
135:
87:(1962-02-27)
70:May 27, 1913
60:William Best
45:
25:
21:William Best
2968:1962 deaths
2963:1913 births
2944:Willie Best
2935:Willie Best
2630:Fred Toones
2598:Film portal
2516:2 episodes
2449:Uncredited
2431:Uncredited
2413:Uncredited
2406:Smart Woman
2395:Andy Jones
2329:Uncredited
2277:Uncredited
2209:Uncredited
2191:Uncredited
2156:Uncredited
2138:Uncredited
2120:Uncredited
2087:Uncredited
2035:Uncredited
1976:Busses Roar
1949:Uncredited
1735:High Sierra
1674:Uncredited
1573:Uncredited
1555:Uncredited
1539:Uncredited
1521:Uncredited
1503:Uncredited
1468:Uncredited
1450:Uncredited
1415:Uncredited
1397:Uncredited
1362:Uncredited
1276:Uncredited
1258:Uncredited
1139:Uncredited
1103:Uncredited
1078:Racing Lady
1068:Uncredited
1050:Uncredited
1015:Uncredited
945:Uncredited
876:Uncredited
873:Excitement
858:Uncredited
840:Uncredited
832:Muss 'Em Up
805:Uncredited
787:Uncredited
752:Uncredited
710:The Nitwits
646:Uncredited
628:Uncredited
592:Uncredited
574:Uncredited
571:Laundryman
503:Uncredited
469:Filmography
141:Willie Best
32:Willie Best
2957:Categories
2646:References
2556:Waterfront
2552:1954-1955
2534:1952-1955
2503:1951-1952
2470:1950-1955
2096:The Kansan
1588:Baltimore
1239:Short film
1231:Deep South
530:Deep South
513:Feet First
454:Bamboozled
414:Waterfront
377:Television
365:Roy Rogers
320:Guy Kibbee
214:Feet First
188:California
119:Occupation
66:1913-05-27
2862:March 24,
2799:March 24,
2778:March 24,
2746:August 5,
2640:Blackface
1981:Sunshine
1924:Juke Girl
1860:Clarence
1740:Algernon
1531:Blackmail
1447:Algernon
1394:Hannibal
1202:McTavish
661:Buckshot
459:Spike Lee
387:Stu Erwin
383:Hal Roach
354:in 1946.
297:chauffeur
217:) and in
184:chauffeur
180:Hollywood
160:comedians
2948:AllMovie
2570:See also
2544:Charlie
2378:Jackson
2242:Lucille
2206:Red Cap
2171:Woodrow
2153:Mo' Rum
2117:Soldier
2084:Steward
1325:Jughead
1100:Janitor
978:Catfish
367:western
326:(1941),
259:Bob Hope
229:(1932),
223:(1931),
44:Best in
2496:Willie
2462:Wesley
2446:Willie
2274:Porter
2227:Serial
1964:Waiter
1895:Willie
1878:Samuel
1826:Arnold
1809:George
1774:Willie
1757:George
1723:Andrew
1552:Redcap
1500:Driver
1430:Porter
1425:Blondie
1377:George
1291:Joshua
995:Drowsy
767:Apollo
762:Hot Tip
732:Pompey
715:Sleepy
607:Exodus
550:Luftus
358:Arrests
2737:
2713:
2665:
2465:Short
2224:Flash
2100:Bones
1929:Jo-Mo
1654:Sambo
1171:Warts
1118:Speed
1083:Brass
1030:Henry
679:Jonah
485:Notes
479:Title
447:Legacy
390:sitcom
301:porter
283:(1946)
206:(1938)
95:, U.S.
76:, U.S.
50:(1946)
2521:1953
2488:1951
2454:1950
2436:1949
2418:1948
2402:1948
2385:1948
2370:1947
2355:1947
2334:1946
2316:1946
2299:1946
2282:1945
2264:1945
2249:1945
2232:1945
2214:1945
2196:1944
2178:1944
2161:1944
2143:1944
2125:1944
2107:1943
2092:1943
2079:Dixie
2074:1943
2057:1943
2050:Hipp
2040:1943
2022:1943
2005:1942
1998:Hipp
1988:1942
1971:1942
1954:1942
1936:1942
1919:1942
1902:1942
1885:1941
1868:1941
1850:1941
1833:1941
1816:1941
1799:1941
1792:Hipp
1782:1941
1764:1941
1747:1941
1730:1941
1713:1940
1696:1940
1689:Alex
1679:1940
1661:1940
1646:1940
1629:1939
1622:Duke
1612:1939
1595:1939
1578:1939
1560:1939
1544:1939
1526:1939
1508:1939
1490:1939
1473:1939
1455:1939
1437:1939
1420:1938
1402:1938
1384:1938
1367:1938
1349:1938
1332:1938
1315:1938
1298:1938
1281:1938
1263:1938
1245:1938
1226:1937
1209:1937
1192:1937
1178:1937
1161:1937
1144:1937
1126:1937
1108:1937
1090:1937
1073:1937
1055:1937
1037:1936
1020:1936
1002:1936
985:1936
968:1936
960:Noah
950:1936
932:1936
915:1936
898:1936
881:1936
863:1936
845:1936
827:1936
810:1935
792:1935
774:1935
757:1935
744:Jalna
739:1935
722:1935
705:1935
687:1935
669:1934
651:1934
633:1934
615:1932
597:1932
579:1931
561:1931
540:1931
526:1930
508:1930
490:1930
482:Role
476:Year
427:Death
182:as a
170:Stage
149:actor
122:Actor
2939:IMDb
2864:2016
2801:2016
2780:2016
2748:2018
2735:ISBN
2711:ISBN
2663:ISBN
2309:Joe
1219:Sam
891:Eph
855:Sam
233:and
82:Died
56:Born
2946:at
2937:at
435:in
405:'s
403:CBS
401:on
316:RKO
291:or
143:or
2959::
2829:.
2690:.
2673:.
443:.
373:.
322::
267:.
151:.
2866:.
2803:.
2782:.
2750:.
2717:.
68:)
64:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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